Your Guide to Going Places

Favorite Hotels in Four Cities

In my travels for The Times, I've inspected hundreds of lodgings in cities foreign and domestic, and slept in more than a few of them. Among those towns were four that, it might be argued, beckon most to Southern Californians: San Francisco, San Diego, London and Paris.

Below, my hotel picks from those four cities, gathered over the past three or four years, and updated for this special section. In most cases, there actually are two lists: a "Top 10 for Style" and "Top 10 for Value." In seeking out hotels with distinctive style, I paid most attention to amenities, design and service; in the search for value, it was price over packaging. Always ask if special rates, packages or discounts (such as AAA) are available when booking.

For the Record Los Angeles Times Sunday April 6, 1997 Home Edition Travel Part L Page 6 Travel Desk 2 inches; 37 words Type of Material: Correction Hotels--Due to an editing error, the Clift Hotel in San Francisco was incorrectly listed as a Four Seasons hotel ("Favorite Hotels in Four Cities," March 30 tabloid section). The Clift (telephone [800] 652-5438) is no longer associated with the Four Seasons chain.

The Sherman House. This French-Italianate mansion and its carriage house now house six one-bedroom suites and eight guest rooms, all but one with fireplaces. Member of Relais & Chateaux. 14 rooms. Brochure rates: $210-$775. 2160 Green St.; tel. (800) 424-5777 or (415) 563-3600.

Top 10 for Value

Andrews Hotel. If ever you wondered where the smallest bathrooms in San Francisco hoteldom are, this could be it. But they're clean, and the small rooms to which they're attached are well put together. 48 rooms. Brochure rates: $86-$119. 624 Post St.; tel. (800) 926-3739 or (415) 563-6877.